Unions play a key role in helping women sustain themselves and their families.
Unionized women make about $203 more per week than nonunion women in similar jobs, about a 21 percent increase. (Institute for Women’s Policy Research). Union women are far more likely to also have employed provided health insurance and an employer-sponsored pension or retirement plan.
Union contracts also provide the leave time for workers to care for themselves and their families, protections against discrimination and safer working conditions.
Union membership is particularly important for many women of color.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and National Partnership for Women and Families (NPWF), a nonprofit group that advocates for economic and health justice for women and families, recently reported that the percentage of unionized Black women increased from 10.3% to 10.5%, while Latina women in unions increased from 8.5% to 8.8%.
The NPWF found that in 2023, unionized Latina workers made almost $14,000 more per year than nonunion counterparts.
Meanwhile, Black union women made about 20% more per week than nonunion workers. Unionized Asian-American and Pacific Islander women made about 7% more per week than nonunion counterparts.
While unions greatly advance the ongoing fight for gender equity, there is still work to do.
Women who work full time outside the home continue to face a wage gap. On average, women are paid about 84 cents to every dollar paid to men in comparable jobs.
The gender wage gap is even wider for women of color. According to NPWF, Asian American and Pacific Islander women were paid 80 cents; Black women were paid 67 cents, Native American women were paid 59 cents and Latinas were paid 57 cents.
While union membership rates for women overall remained largely unchanged from over the past year, the labor movement has seen some victories.
Union organizing efforts remain strong, and many groups of workers also secured contracts that included wage increases, health care and job protections. Labor also saw continued public support, with two-thirds of people approving of unions (Gallup).
Unionized women make about $203 more per week than nonunion women in similar jobs, about a 21 percent increase.
On average, women are paid about 84 cents to every dollar paid to men in comparable jobs.
